Rio Tinto sees downside risk near term for metals

Global miner
Rio Tinto
warned that metals demand could fall in the near term and prices could be volatile in the medium term due to economic imbalances, but the long term growth outlook remained strong.

"Financial systems remain fragile, particularly in OECD countries. The increase in sovereign debts, and government measures to address fiscal imbalances, are likely to temper short term growth," chairman Jan du Plessis said in the group's annual report.